One of the largest collegiate sporting events in the country returned to the Hammond Sportsplex on Friday as the facility hosted the annual Midwest Region Crossover volleyball tournament for the third year in a row.
With 36 NCAA Division II teams and nearly 650 athletes from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the tournament has called the Hammond Sportsplex home since 2021 – when the city won bids from other communities, including Indianapolis for the rights to host the event.
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“We are very excited to have them back,” said Kymberli Roberts, general manager of the Sportsplex. “Every year we host it, the tournament gets bigger. It always runs smoothly and it shows the work that all three conventions, the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority (CVA) and we the Sportsplex do. It's just good teamwork all around.”
The Sportsplex's large gymnasium is suitable for the event – allowing six matches to be played simultaneously. Things got off to a quick start when the games started – with the teams playing opponents they rarely meet outside of the postseason.
“These teams play each other when they get to the NCAA Tournament, so getting them together in the middle of the season to take the field is a really special experience,” said Katie Gilhooly, director of Digital Media and Communications for G-MAC.
“It's the only time the players actually cheer for the other teams in their conference, because they never play against them in this tournament. You are very proud of the conference you are at.”
Gilhooly noted that while the quality of the facilities plays a key role in hosting the Sportsplex each year – the reason for their decision goes much deeper than that.
“What makes it even bigger is the people here, like Megan Goodan and the South Shore CVA,” she said. “All of them have been more than willing to assist us in hosting and caring for our student-athletes. I think the experience that we and our student-athletes had really exceeded our expectations.”
Goodan, head of sports and recreation for the South Shore CVA, noted the strength of their partnership with the conferences. The GLVC and G-MAC are also set to host the America's Crossroads Bowl in Hammond on Dec. 1 at Hammond Central High School – one of only three sanctioned NCAA Division II Bowl Games.
“I told them this week that they're an extension of our South Shore family at this point,” Goodan said. “Having these first class facilities here in Hammond has really helped put the District on the map in terms of collegiate sports. With this tournament, the city is flooded with fans, friends and family who travel from all over the Midwest. It's exciting to watch.”
The Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday, with tickets on sale at the gate.
To learn more, visit southshorecva.com/mw-region-volleyball-crossover-tournament.
